LAMBERTVILLE — One of the first civil unions in New Jersey, if not the first, was performed here in February 2007. Now officials want to host the state's first marriage between same-sex partners.

If Gov. Chris Christie doesn't appeal the Sept. 27 ruling by a state Superior Court judge, the first of those marriages could take place shortly after the stroke of midnight on Monday, Oct. 21. Or three days after that, if Oct. 21 instead starts the clock ticking on the state's mandatory three-day waiting period after filing for a marriage license.

So far the city has heard from three couples hoping to say "I do" as soon as the law allows. The state registrar is off today, said city Clerk Cindy Ege, and she's hoping to get some procedural issues clarified tomorrow.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act. In doing so the federal government was required to provide the same benefits to same- and opposite-sex married couples.

Since then some federal agencies said they wouldn't extend those benefits, including those pertaining to taxes, health care, and immigration, to couples united by civil unions. In turn, that led to the case before Jacobson.

Republican Gov. Christie in February vetoed a bill passed by the Legislature last year that would have allowed same-sex couples to marry. He has said that he wants the matter to go before the state's voters.

In the meantime, the governor is vowing to appeal Jacobson's ruling to the state Supreme Court. He could seek a stay to prevent same-sex marriages from starting on Oct. 21.

Beth Asaro

New Jersey in December 2006 became the third state in the union to sanction same-sex civil unions, effective in February 2007. Today, 13 states and the District of Columbia allow gay couples to marry.

Councilwoman Beth Asaro, who hopes to marry Joanne Schailey on Oct. 21, said that it's also not clear if their New Jersey civil union would automatically be converted to a marriage.

In 2007 Asaro and Schailley were joined in civil union shortly after the stroke of midnight at the Justice Center here, following a reception for 100 family and friends. At the time Asaro wasn't a councilwoman.

They had two maids of honor — Meg Asaro, Beth's sister, and Maryann Woodland, Joanne's sister. Their then-7-year-old daughter was the flower girl. They entered the ceremony on the arm of Beth's father, former Hopewell Borough councilman Sal Asaro.

Mayor David DelVecchio performed the civil union, saying, "We are gathered here to unite Beth and Jo in a civil union" that was "not entered into lightly" as they "publicly declare their love ... in accordance with the laws of New Jersey."

The women have been partners for more than 25 years and city residents for more than 15.

Asaro said after her civil union that she learned from her family that "all that matters is love."

Today, Asaro said, "There is homelessness, famine, genocides, war, earthquakes, all type of natural disaster — and so in the grand scheme of things" same-sex marriage is "a no-brainer."

More than 70% of New Jerseyans support and "understand" such marriages, she said. "Now let's do it and move on."